Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Get Me Out of Here!

Cabin fever has officially gotten to me you guys. Maybe you're feeling the same way. It's pretty common to get stir crazy toward the end of winter, and I think most of us experience some sort of desire to escape after several months of dreary weather. I get this way every year, and I always have. But since I moved my studio to a home office a few years ago, it's progressively gotten worse. The combination of spending way too much time in my house, the grey skies and cold weather, and lots of alone time (my husband is on the road almost nonstop in January, February, and March) tends to push me over the edge by mid-March. I really make an effort to get out as much as possible during the winter and to spend lots of time with other human beings, but eventually, the wanderlust takes over and I need a trip. I don't care if it's an overnight trip to somewhere two hours a way. I get claustrophobic and desperate for a change of atmosphere, and I have to find a way to get out.

In an effort to remind myself that (despite how it might feel right now) I am not actually in jail, I decided to look through some pictures I've taken of places I've visited over the last few years. It made me feel better (There is a world outside! Hallelujah!), and I thought I'd share some of them with you. Those of you who are regular readers know that travel has always been an important part of my life. In my early 20s, I spent several summers traveling the country in a 1978 Southwind RV to vend my clothing line at music festivals, and continued to travel constantly for work. Since then, I've been lucky to visit places all over the world, usually by tagging along with Robbie and the band (a trade-off that I try to remember when I'm feeling lonely or sad about how much he is away). And even though I've become much more content with spending time close to home as I've gotten older, I think I'll always feel the need to escape a few times a year (especially at winter's end!).

Thankfully, bright and early next Monday morning, I'll be hopping a plane to Arizona. I'd already had plans to meet Robbie there for the band's last show of this run, followed by a quick day or two at his parents' house before heading home. But after a conversation last week with my amazing mother-in-law, who had just spent a few weeks under the midwest's depressing blanket of clouds and cold air herself, I was convinced to come out a week early. It's not going to be a vacation per se, but rather a new environment in which I can work and live for a week and a half, which is 100% alright by me. Especially when said environment has things I've been desperately missing, like blue skies and sunshine.

Who else has end-of-winter cabin fever? Do any of you have trips coming up?

What beautiful photos! It looks like you've found some great travel spots... I love the colorado photo. I have the worst case of cabin fever... which is saying something seeing as I got back from spring break three days ago! Looks like I need a longer trip.

Love your pics!! In about 3-weeks we're headed to Seaside, Florida for a week! Have you been? Something tells me you would really love it there! http://www.seasidefl.com/Also, just a hunch but have you been through Missoula, MT? Heading there in July and would love a couple suggestions on places that are a MUST to check out! Good luck on the cabin fever and safe travels!

Beautiful pics! I love travelling too and it's amazing how sometimes just looking at photos can really help you realise and appreciate how lucky you are to have seen so many beautiful places! There will always be somewhere new to visit on my wish list but sometimes we need to remember that not everyone is as lucky. Being able to travel is a wonderful thing! x

It is a wonderful thing and you're right, not everyone is lucky enough to experience it. For me, I have been able to do it so extensively because my husband's job (and mine, for many years in the past) is based around travel. There are definite sacrifices (I would do anything to have him home more often!), but I'm so grateful for the experiences I have been able to have. :)

Oh my gosh I totally have cabin fever.. it sucks even worse cuz I live in a basement. Sigh.Also flights are so expensive right now and I barely ever get time off so planning trips are hard. I'm thinking of planning a quick weekend getaway to a small town just west of where I live.

he, you've been in Belgium too! :-)Love the photographs of Colorado and San Fransisco.I always have the urge to travel, explore and get inspired. Sometimes with a real travel, sometimes just a lonely walk in the woods. But it has nothing to do with winter. I can't get enough of winter, especially when it snows.

Just wrote about choosing a warm, sunny destination during the winter storm in Boston that brought me to my limit. And just decided and a western US road trip for the summer! woo! Flowers are blooming and the sun is out..no more cabin fever here.

I love this post and seeing all the places you've been! Awesome photos - love ALL of them! I'm really excited for you to be able to go to Arizona early. The weather is great out here (I'm in California), and today we might just hit 80 degrees!Thanks for giving my virtual passport a few stamps!~Kim